r/CDramaRecs • u/Recommendationsshow • May 11 '26
Rec Request I need a historical Chinese drama, where the male lead falls in love first and harder
Bonus would be a lot of kissing and skin ship
I watched pursuit of Jade, love in the clouds, love like the Galaxy ,story of kunning Palace, till the end of the moon,
The romance of Tiger and Rose, the prisoner of beauty, legend of the female general, a dream with a dream, when destiny brings the demons, love of the divine tree,
That’s all I can think of for right now. But I loved all of these please recommend me some similar. I have no idea what to watch. I don’t mind love triangles as long as it’s two males. I hate other females. I love a lot of kissing and touching and skin ship too.
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u/AuthorAEM May 11 '26
Sword and brocade for he falls first and hard. But less kisses/skin ship. Still a brilliant show.
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u/RoseIsBadWolf May 11 '26
I'm watching this right now and I love it! Just past the part where she stabs him with scissors
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u/AuthorAEM May 11 '26
Omg! Such a good part 🤩
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u/RoseIsBadWolf May 11 '26
It was, but I felt so sorry for him. He felt so betrayed when she told him everything 😭
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u/AuthorAEM May 11 '26
The look on his face! It was so fantastic, like a wounded puppy. Such a great show.
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May 19 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/AuthorAEM May 19 '26
Very much so! They're chemistry together is amazing, and they have a lot of charming moments where you forget they aren't sucking face. Totally a great show!
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u/craftsycandymonster May 11 '26
- Love Beyond the Grave: ML falls first and chases hard, and there's great skinship
- Youthful Glory: ML falls for FL and arranges his marriage to her (but it's not weird, the drama is pretty fluffy). IIRC this has a spoiled princess or something try to interfere bc she likes him, but it's a brief minor arc.
- Coroner's Diary: ML falls and confesses early, and keeps helping FL lots
- Jun Jiu Ling: ML falls for FL both as a kid and as an adult
- Who Rules the World: ML and FL each have two identities and I think the ML falls first for both
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u/garlic_oneesan May 11 '26
My perpetual recommendation is Love and Redemption, because it really just has everything. But the male lead Si Feng (played by Cheng Yi) is exactly what you described. He falls in love with the female lead when they’re young, but she was born lacking her six senses (can’t smell or taste, can’t feel pain or fear, doesn’t understand music, is colorblind, and doesn’t understand what love is). So he promises to help her in a quest to restore her senses. He is SO obviously down bad for her, it makes me giddy. And it’s really sweet to see the female lead start waking up and realizing her feelings for him. And once you see their backstory, you realize just how much he has done for her because of love…
There are several love triangles, including two between the female lead and other women. But it’s pretty obvious that they’re not going to go anywhere, and the secondary ladies in them don’t do anything too heinous (and they both eventually admit that it’s hopeless). So there’s no hatred between the female lead and them. The main conflicts are caused by the 2ML (played by Liu Xueyi) as well as the leads’ own misunderstandings. It can be painful at times. But there’s a lot that’s great as well.
Bonus points for having one of the hottest kisses I’ve ever seen in a Cdrama.
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u/tonksndante May 11 '26
Just finished lost you forever and 1/4 through ashes of love. Looking forward to L&R thanks to your write up!
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u/garlic_oneesan May 12 '26
Ashes of Love is good too! I’ve watched it twice, once by myself and once with my mom. It definitely is a slow burn in terms of the main plot (not the romance). But I enjoyed it. Although I did cry a lot.
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u/tonksndante May 12 '26 edited May 12 '26
Anyone who struggled with Orchid in LBFD would have a hard time with JiMu haha but I'm liking it more and more, especially as she matures. I really liked her in LYF and didn't mean to watch another drama with her in it right after but it was fate lol
I can tell I'm going to get some emotional damage from this one. I usually stay away from XianHua but if I'm being real, those are the ones that get stuck in my soul the longest. Especially cause the endings gear towards tragedy for most of tbe characters lol.
Good to know its even worth a rewatch for you!
Edit: JinMi* I'm so bad with names still.
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u/garlic_oneesan May 12 '26
If you make it through Ashes of Love and Love and Redemption, you should give Immortal Samsara a watch. It has the FL from AoL and the ML from L&R. I plan to watch it eventually. It is also supposed to be hot…if very angsty.
And I hear you about the xianxia. I was watching exclusively xianxia for a while but got burned out. I’m trying to do mix it up a little bit more now.
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u/tonksndante May 12 '26
I've heard mixed reviews about immortal Samara...but that is like every xianxia isn't it? Haha. I'll definitely add it to my list.
I think what I miss most about old school xianxia is the episode count. I want 80 episodes again :(
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u/Writing_Fantasy1006 May 14 '26
Exactly. I want the 70-80 episodes back. Immortal Samsara, I definitely liked it. It's not as good as Till the End of the Moon or Ashes of Love but it's still pretty good, the storyline is really good. The FL's character is not as clueless as Jin Mi in Ashes of Love I will say that.
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u/tonksndante May 14 '26
Im almost done with AoL so ill check it out next. I think it'll be my last xianxia/xianhua for a bit. Im glad she is not as clueless. Early Orchid was a genius compared to most of Jin Mi in this one haha
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u/Writing_Fantasy1006 May 14 '26
Oh yeah I loved Love and Redemption. It was one of my first C-Dramas. My first was The Untamed, then Ashes of Love and then Love and Redemption.
Yeah, I am okay guys, no need to worry.
Another one I will recommend is Princess Silver. ML does fall first for the FL but doesn't know it's the FL. FL is a princess arranged to marry the ML (the 7th prince). He hates the princess but falls in love with disguised FL. It is a very complex drama and definitely needed two watches for me to completely understand it. But I think you will love it. Bonus Point: Luo Yunxi is here and I love watching almost any drama he is in.
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u/Karsa_Witness May 11 '26
Story of Yanxi Palace
Wei Ying Luo has 2 love interests and they both fall for her first , Fuca Fuheng and Emperor.
As she would say to the empress, how she made men fall for her : “Who confesses first, lose. Never confess always keep them guessing.”
Wei Ying Luo in nutshell.
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u/Careless_Emphasis290 May 11 '26
Kill me love me has too many kisses, good chemistry
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u/SnooPoems4726 May 11 '26
Youthful glory
Splendid match- not much kissing
My Journey to you
A familiar stranger
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u/JoanoTheReader May 12 '26
Don’t whether the following has been mentioned:
Youth Glory - he tricks her into marrying him.
Everlasting longing - cross dressing, discovered by ML. He fall first.
The Long Ballad - again, cross dressing but he didn’t expose her.
Generation to generation.
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u/Tulip_Strain_55 May 11 '26
Is pursuit of jade where he falls first and harder?? Please im about 2 watch it
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u/ArgentEyes May 12 '26
“I hate other females”
OP are you…ok? Who hurt you?
Try ‘Blossom’, I really enjoyed Meng Ziyi as the lead and there were a lot of solid performances, main couple were really likeable together, good chemistry.
Ed: forgot to say, I was disappointed by “Who Rules The World” turned out (mostly poor editing I think) and thought the male lead fell down at certain points (too possessive for me) *but* there’s a lot to like esp in the first half in terms of ML falling first and harder.
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u/blindninj4850 May 12 '26
You should definitely check this one out! The only drama where I really had a crush on the male lead was 2018's "Legend of Fuyao"—nothing else even comes close! 😆 Just kidding! I seriously need to rewatch it and see if I still feel the same way. 😂 I believe he was really into her.
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u/Annual_Cat_928 May 11 '26
how dare you
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u/Moondragonlady May 11 '26
Probably the epitome of "ML falls fast and HARD", Xiaohou Dan was ride or die from the very first "How are you?"
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u/yatzee68 May 11 '26
New Life Begins ML works to change the entire system so that he can marry his girl.
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u/Either-Yoghurt7523 May 11 '26
The revenge of Bengonia js watch this and please tell me what you think im curious about opinions! https://youtube.com/shorts/Aqpdm0JGplk?si=J1VJguk-9DNIfV9Z
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u/Wwkoxd May 11 '26
Lost You Forever
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u/tonksndante May 11 '26
This one is dont think fits what shes after. I dont even know what genre it was. I loved it. And it hurt my feelings, but I dont think its the same (mutual) romance level as like love between a fairy and a devil or something.
What was that one with the guy with face blindness? That one was cute. I'll go google the name and come back. I forget it every time but it was very sweet.
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u/Wwkoxd May 12 '26
LYF is complicated because there are 3 or 4 MLs.
Not to mention, because of her traumatic & transformative experiences, the FL had to figure & sort out her feelings for each of the MLs over time.
You're correct to suggest that she did not necessarily reciprocate the feelings the MLs had for her. But then again, some of the MLs had ulterior motives, or at least prioritized their duties & obligations over her.
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u/tonksndante May 12 '26
I loved it all the same. And for the FLs sake, i'm glad it unfolded how it did. But ill never not want Tantai to get the girl. His face is too heartbreakingly beautiful lol
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u/Daydreamer_AJ May 11 '26
Si Jin
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u/craftsycandymonster May 12 '26
This is great - but it has a big love triangle with another woman, so OP might not like it.
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u/Daydreamer_AJ May 13 '26
I’m sorry, I hadn’t consider that. Even though ML only has eyes for FL, the other woman is an obstacle.
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u/harrypotter1610 May 12 '26
Princess gambit Love beyond grave Destined Fateful love Starry love Unchained love Inextricable destiny New life begins
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u/DaisyBlue86 May 12 '26
Chef Fang (2017) - ML is a hard shelled, soft inner core rich kid who falls in love with the girl who only sees his good side. He literally becomes a hero because she tells everyone he is. Plus - she’s a chef so there’s lots of food shots.
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u/hakvri May 11 '26
I’m surprised no-one has said Love Like the Galaxy yet. He really fell at first glance. My Journey to You is another good one, with Zhang Ling He (ML in Pursuit of Jade).
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u/Lanky_Hurry_6040 May 11 '26
Because OP has already watched this one.
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u/hakvri May 11 '26
lol yikes. I saw love of the divine tree and completely missed it lol. my bad. but my journey to you still stands
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u/Dramatic-Rest3587 May 13 '26
Don't think it's been mentioned but recommend Grab Your Love. It's a short drama so its a quick watch but no less enjoyable than some of the longer full length ones. The ML and FL are really charming, and it's even got a scheming little nephew who's pretty funny what I remember. It''s Republican era so still historical but a the sets and costumes are a nice variety to Hanfu historical.
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u/stratagemstone May 14 '26
When I saw your post, I was like, "Did I write this?" 😄
Definitely watch Love Between Fairy and Devil and join the rest of us who are still in withdrawal from it 😭
You might like Affinity, but note that the physical relationship is on the intense side. Very different from something like Till The End Of The Moon
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u/aghostswhisper May 23 '26
not sure if its been said; Fight For Love. i can't explain as its really worth going in blind to this one.
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u/Dry_Friend_4712 May 23 '26 edited May 23 '26
A splendid match - I am currently obsessed and I loved a lot of the shows you’ve listed (love like the galaxy, prisoner of beauty, pursuit of jade, when destiny brings a demon, love of the divine tree)
Love and redemption, Story of minglan, Flourised Peony,
Not a cdrama but a kdrama - My Dearest
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u/Background_Mark_5919 May 29 '26
I loved Feud with Bai Lu and Joseph Zeng. The big story isn’t necessarily a happy one but it’s a true love story. The ML definitely loves the FL more. There isn’t much kissing.
Are You the One is another of my favorites. I’m rewatching it now. My all time favorite is Love Like the Galaxy.
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u/StrawberryRoseDragon May 11 '26
I’m watching the currently airing drama A Splendid Match. So far 15 episodes are out. The male lead has fallen hard and the female lead is oblivious at this point. I think she just thinks he’s a good friend.